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Where Are the Players Lionel Messi Tipped as His Successors Today?

By מערכת אתר ערוץ הספורט

Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba

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Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

In 2015, Lionel Messi identified several young footballers as potential successors. A decade later, these players have had diverse career paths, with some achieving moderate success and others struggling to reach their potential. Many of the players Messi highlighted are now with less prominent clubs or are free agents.

The story in 4 lines · by baba

Lionel Messi identified several young players as potential successors in 2015.
Many of these players have had varied career trajectories over the past decade.
Rony Lopes, once linked to Maccabi Haifa, is currently playing in Poland.
Several players Messi highlighted are now with less prominent clubs or are free agents.

A decade ago, in 2015, football superstar Lionel Messi identified several young players he believed had the potential to follow in his footsteps. Now, with Messi's career winding down, an examination of these chosen few reveals a mixed bag of fortunes.

Among those Messi highlighted was Brazilian winger "Kandia," who, after a promising start at Chelsea, became a serial loan player and now plays for Mexican club Pachuca.

Other players mentioned include Accursio Bentivegna, now in Italy's third division; Russian attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk, who plays for Atlanta United in MLS; and Hirji Shaltoun, who has not made a significant impact in MLS or Germany and is currently a free agent. Rony Lopes, who was linked with Maccabi Haifa last summer, has played for numerous clubs across Europe and is now with Motor Lublin.

Many of these players, once tipped for stardom by one of the sport's greatest, have had varied careers, with some finding moderate success and others struggling to establish themselves at the highest level.

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